May 2, 2026 
“It’s definitely a day to remember,” said an emotional Ilan Bluman.
Ilan, riding alongside his brother Mark and their cousin Daniel, capped a dominant season for for Maccabi United with a resounding victory in MLSJ’s The Monterrey Final on Friday.
“I was waiting for this from the beginning. I don’t think I have ever ridden with that amount of pressure. To compete with my brother and my cousin, it’s amazing—I have no words.”
Holding a commanding lead coming into the Finals, Maccabi United fielded stalwarts Ubiluc (Mark) and Acajou (Ilan), alongside the 9-year-old mare Malina (Daniel).
Advancing to the medal round, Maccabi United faced the Archers. While the season title was already clinched, the team was determined to end the season on a high note.
“We knew going into the last round that we were already the winners overall but still wanted to win the final class of the season,” said Mark, who delivered the decisive performance in the gold-medal round against Patricio Pasquel.
“Ubiluc jumped unbelievably. He’s a horse that owes nothing to any of the family members—every round I get out of him is a plus.”
Daniel and Ilan each delivered clear rounds in the second round, setting the stage for Mark to seal the win.
“One of our main goals of the year was to win The League as a team,” said Daniel. “When you look at our roster, you wouldn’t think that we would dominate like we did. But we had consistency, great energy and team dynamic. This is very special for us as a family. Winning is fun, but when you’re winning and having a really good time with friends and family, it’s even more fun.”
The silver medal went to the Archers’ team, represented by Patricio Pasquel, Amy Millar (CAN), and Francisco Goyoaga Mollet (ESP). The Trelawny Trailblazers—Natalie Dean (USA), Lillie Keenan (USA), and Conor Swail (IRL)—rounded out the podium with bronze.
